The Village Council Hall of Kejanglwa Village under Peren District, constructed under DUDA was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, T.R. Zeliang on 17th May, 2025 in the presence of DC Peren, Hiazu Meru and other officials.
In his inaugural speech, T.R. Zeliang said, Nagaland to not follow the Panchayati Raj System which was passed in the Indian Parliament in 1992 and came into effect on 24th April, 1993. However, he said, Nagaland has its own Village Council System established under the Nagaland Village and Area Council Act, 1978, which gave us the Village Development Board (VDB). Therefore, he suggested that, the Village Council Hall should not be called as the Panchayat Hall.
Under Article 371 (A) of the Indian Constitution, Zeliang said, "we enjoy rights for Religious and Social practices, Customary Law and Procedures, Administration of Civil and Criminal Justice”. Maintaining that Village Council Court is the lowest and the highest court according to Zeliangrong Customary Practices, he said, "If any individual or group goes to High Court or Supreme Court against the judgement given by the Village Council pertaining to land dispute, marriage or divorce cases and other social practices, such people are violating the customary system of the Zeliangrong tribe".
With the posting of local officers in most of the District Head Office, most importantly the DC and SP, Zeliang pointed out that the Village Councils should have sincere concern and workout to streamline the customary system of governance with the support of the Civil Society Organisations and Tribal Bodies.
Also, highlighting the various ongoing road construction projects carried out across the district under different schemes, he remarked that, with completion of these roads, Kejanglwa Village will be greatly benefitted, connected with good and sustainable road to Jalukie and Peren town.
Others who spoke in the programme included DC Peren, Hiazu Meru; Kejanglwa Village Council, Chairman, Namrachang Hegui and Kejanglwa Youth Organization, President.
The inaugural event was chaired by Village Council Secretary, Hiareu Ndang and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Head GB, Hubagwang.
(Mamang IA, Peren)
